Jack Rowell backs Bath Rugby to finish in top four

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Legendary coach Jack Rowell will be surprised and disappointed if his beloved Bath don’t push on and make it into the Premiership play-offs this season.

The former England supremo was in the stands with more than 12,000 fans at a sold-out Recreation Ground to witness Bath’s 11th win on the bounce, a 14-3 victory against in-form Harlequins.

Now in his late 70s, Rowell’s eye for talent remains shrewd and he has been particularly impressed by the young guns in the back-line: George Ford, Kyle Eastmond, Jonathan Joseph and Anthony Watson.

He believes they will provide the key to unlock the leanest and meanest defences as the season reaches its crescendo and the likes of Saracens and Northampton stand between Mike Ford’s side and Premiership glory.

Not since 2009/10 have Bath finished in the top four. Currently third, they go to Northampton’s Franklins Gardens this weekend and Leicester’s Welford Road next week – two of the league’s fortresses.

“It looks pretty tight at the top, but I think Bath are serious contenders for top four,” he told the Western Daily Press.“They’ve got strength in depth and I’ll be surprised if they don’t do it.

“I think Bath are building and building. Their squad is better than last year’s.

“They are allegedly looking to play a more ambitious game and with these young backs – the two centres, Joseph and Eastmond, and Watson at full-back – things are looking promising when they get a chance to settle down and play together.

“The real advent is Ford at number 10, whose kicking is outstanding in managing the game. His combination with the people outside him will give an extra dimension to Bath’s game – much needed if they’re going to compete at the end (of the season).”

Determined to foster an attractive brand of rugby at national level, Rowell coached England to the 1995 World Cup semi-final in South Africa.

But it was his time at Bath between 1978 and 1994 where he had the Midas touch, scooping eight John Player and Pilkington Cups and five league championships, before returning as director of rugby in 2002.

As well as 20-year-old Ford’s maturity and sense of timing with ball in hand, Rowell is impressed by his bravery in the face of back-rowers determined to cut him down and smother his influence.

“He doesn’t look that big, but he’s obviously strong,” Rowell added. “Given his importance to the Bath team he’ll be targeted by the opposition, but he’s got the mental resilience – and physical – to cope with that.”

With every win Bath chalk up, the clamour for Ford and co to figure in Stuart Lancaster’s Six Nations squad grows.

Blessed with bags of talent, they should be in the reckoning but still have work to do, Rowell said.

“I think they’ve got a bit more to do in the Bath team to improve themselves, but they’re certainly worth including in the wider squad.”

Article source: http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/Sport/Luton-Town-FC/Rugby-Union-Round-up-from-December-14-20131216095928.htm

Jack Rowell backs Bath Rugby to finish in top four